Moment Of Choice Social Psychological Perspectives On Drug Use [Paperback]

The Moment of Choice: Social-Psychological Perspectives on Drug Usage gives readers an unbiased overview of drugs and drug use from a variety of perspectives. The book presents sound information that helps individuals make informed decisions about their own use or non-use of legal and illegal drugs.

The Moment of Choice differs from other books in the field by addressing numerous issues of interest and relevance to college-age students. The broad focus of the material emphasizes the social, cultural, psychological, and health impacts that drugs have not only on individuals, but on society as a whole. Bringing together a wide range of works from prominent scholars in the field, as well as selections from the Center for Health Policy and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this insightful, engaging text challenges students to reflect on their personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in relationship to chemical substances.

The book is divided into five sections. The first section addresses drug use, abuse, and dependence, and provides classifications of drugsboth legal and illegal. Sections Two and Three educate readers about depressants and stimulants. The fourth section discusses marijuana, hallucinogens, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and performance-enhancing drugs. The final section of the text offers different views on legalizing certain drugs, along with preventing and treating addiction. Topics covered in the text include: The Nature of Addiction; Binge Drinking in College; Nicotine Addiction and the Cost of Smoking; Drug Use in Prison; Economic Approaches to Decriminalizing Drugs; and Prevention and Treatment.

Through reading The Moment of Choice readers will develop a broad understanding of the complex issue of drugs in American society, and learn to differentiate between drug use, misuse, and abuse.

Robert Slisz earned his counseling degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. Prior to beginning ls;